Kei Nishikori, a tennis player, has spoken out in response to charges of cheating.
In a statement released to the Japanese tabloid Shukan Bunshun, the Olympian, 35, addressed rumors of having an affair with a model. He and his wife, Mai Yamaguchi, have been married since 2020 and have two children, according to the publication.
“I deeply apologize for causing discomfort to everyone who supports me: tennis fans, associations, sponsors, and other related parties, as well as their concern and inconvenience as a result of my dishonest behavior,” Nishikori wrote in the statement, which was translated by the New York Post and Daily Mail.
“Additionally, I deeply regret making my wife and children feel hurt,” he said. “Going forward, to fulfill my job as a responsible member of society, I will concentrate entirely on tennis matches and results. We shall do everything we can to regain their trust.
Nishikori has not issued a statement regarding the allegations on social media at this time. On Saturday, June 21, a Nishikori representative did not immediately respond for additional information.
The tennis champion was caught visiting model Azuki Oguchi’s apartment in Japan last week, according to Shukan Bunshun. According to the reports, he and Oguchi met in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2022. Later the same year, Nishikori announced on Instagram that he and his wife had formally had a wedding ceremony and celebration despite being unable to “hold” one owing to Covid limitations.
“Thank you so many people for celebrating in such a big way,” he wrote in a translated Instagram post accompanying wedding photos, calling it “another new start for us.”
Nishikori is presently ranked No. 66 in the world, according to ESPN and the ATP Tour. He just withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon, supposedly owing to injury. Nishikori defeated Aleksandar Vukic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at the Mutua Madrid Open in April, becoming the eighth current player and first Asian player to reach 450 career tour-level wins, according to ATP Tour.
“I had no idea,” he remarked when asked about his most recent success. “I only aim to play one match at a time. Yes, it is a lot. I’ve been playing for 18 years and aspire to attain 500 [wins].